White tigress to mate with brown tiger in Vandalur zoo

CHENNAI: Encouraged by the success of their white tiger breeding programme, the wildlife authorities at Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur, are planning to cross breed white and brown tigers as part of their conservation efforts.
The zoo authorities are planning to shift seven-year-old Anu, a white tigress, to the enclosure of Vijay, a seven-year-old male brown tiger brought in from the Vizag zoo.Anu has so far produced five white tiger cubs with her partner Bheeshmar, an eight-year-old male white tiger.
"We are thinking of mating Anu with Vijay, hoping to get brown cubs. The two brown tigers we currently have at the zoo are too old to reproduce," R Sundararaju, chief wildlife warden, told The Times Of India. "We also want to prevent inbreeding among the white tigers as the risk of genetic deformities in such cases are high. A genetic mutation has already been confirmed in one of the cubs born to Anu recently. Chembian was born with black fur covering his torso which later changed to brown," he added.
Sundararaju said that if the cross breeding was successful, then they would be able to breed both white and brown tigers by cross mating the cubs (when they become adults) with either the mother or the father. This would ensure a fresh bloodline and healthy cubs, he said. Currently, AAZP has three brown tigers. Apart from Vijay, they have two tigresses, Devi and Padma, both sixteen years and too old for mating. Meanwhile, Vijay is in good health and in the prime age for mating, Tirumurugan, Zoo biologist told TOI.
The Vandalur Zoo authorities have now gained a considerable amount of expertise in breeding tigers in captivity. They did a scientific study of the white tiger pair Bheeshmar and Anu, when they showed no inclination to mate after the birth of their first offspring. The study revealed that both tigers were overweight and that was perhaps why they showed no desire to mate. They were then put on a diet and specific medication. Consequently, Anu gave birth to three cubs for the second time.
Sundararaju said that they are hoping such expertise will help them be successful in this breeding attempt. "Tiger conservation has been given top priority and cross breeding will ensure a healthy tiger population," he added.